Updated, 1 p.m.: Message from Chief Operating Officer Ronald J. Pellegrino, M.D., about the impending weather forecast

A message to faculty, staff and residents from Ronald J. Pellegrino, M.D., chief operating officer, WVU Medicine-Ruby Memorial Hospital

As you know, a heavy snowstorm is in the forecast, so WVU Medicine clinics and hospitals are preparing for it.

All WVU Medicine outpatient clinics in Morgantown, including the labs, will close at noon Friday, Jan. 22. The Medical Center Pharmacy will close at 2 p.m. on Friday (Note: Mountaineer Pharmacy, on the ground level of the Health and Education Building, near WVU Student Health and the WVU Urgent Care, Evansdale location, will remain open, with regular hours Friday and Saturday). All clinics, labs and the pharmacy will remain closed on Saturday.

Clinics are expected to be cleared of all patients by 1 p.m. Friday.

Inpatient discharges should be planned for the morning on Friday; the ability to discharge patients will likely be limited in the afternoon.

The Urgent Care in Suncrest Towne Centre will remain open normal hours. The Urgent Care in Evansdale will be closed on Saturday. All WVU dental clinics will remain open with normal hours on campus and at Suncrest Towne Centre.

Employees are expected to report as scheduled; those who cannot make it to work or who must leave early are expected to take personal time off (PDO). Please keep in touch with your supervisor regarding work schedules. Come prepared for all possibilities – you may be asked to stay beyond your shift or unable to leave because of traffic and weather conditions.

All employees are essential and a critical part of our success, but we also want you to be safe and use discretion while traveling to and from work. Please allow yourself extra time to travel.

For night shift staff employees on Friday: staff who normally start at 3 p.m. may clock in as early as 1:30 p.m. Staff who normally start at 7 p.m. may clock in as early as 3 p.m.

The Command Center will be open at 1 p.m. today in Conference Rooms 3A/3B in Ruby Memorial and will remain open during the course of this extreme weather event.

We are seeking volunteers to help with non-clinical roles over the course of this weather event. To volunteer, visit 3A/3B or call 304-598-6020. You will be compensated for your time. WVU Medicine has a tradition of rising to meet the needs of our patients and helping each other during times of crisis – we appreciate your efforts.

The Ruby Cafeteria will be open to offer food services to staff and visitors. The shuttle service will run as normal. On Saturday, if staff need to be returned to their vehicles in the off-campus lots, call Security for assistance.

Every effort will be made to ensure that patient care won’t be affected and that staff will have supplies and support as needed. Overnight accommodations, as needed, will be handled through the Command Center.

Stay tuned to CONNECT for more official information over the weekend.

Read a press release for more informaton.